Shelf bracket construction



Feb. 13, 1962 H. L. SHlVEK SHELF BRACKETCONSTRUCTlON Filed May 4, 1961INVENTOR.

HERBERT L SHIVEK BY WW M j/M FIGS ATTORNEYS United States Patent '03,021,013 SHELF BRACKET CQNSTRUCTION Herbert L. Shivek, Brookline, Mass,assignor to Eastern Steel Rack Company, Dorchester, Mass, :1 corporationof Massachusetts Filed May 4, 1961, Ser. No. 107,715 4 Claims. (Cl.211136) This invention relates to an improved shelf bracketconstruction, and has as its primary object the provision of an improvedbracket construction for adjust-ably supporting shelves upon verticalsupporting posts. It is a further object of the invention to provide ashelf bracket construction which is simply constructed and yet isextremely sturdy for withstanding rough usage and supporting substantialloadings.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of a tubularbracket slidably receivable on a supporting post, and having means forreleasably securing the bracket in a vertically-adjusted position uponthe post. A shelf formed about its edges with vertically-depending sillsterminating in horizontal lips, is provided with a novel arrangement offlanges and tabs for locking engagement with the bracket to firmlysecure these members in assembled relation. At a corner of thehorizontal surface of the shelf, an opening is punched for slidablyreceiving a vertical post therethrough, and the punched sheet materialis bent downwardly to form flanges interiorly engageable with an upperend of the bracket, and positioned to locate the bracket against thecorner formed by the converging sills of a side and an end of the shelf.The horizontal lips are partially cut away at the corner of the shelf toform a pair of locking tabs transversely receivable in the bracketthrough mating slots formed therein. The locking tabs are subsequentlyupset to firmly lock the bracket in position. The bracket is furtherprovided with means for releasably securing the shelf in a verticallyadjusted position on the post, these means preferably comprising a setscrew threadedly engaged in the bracket. While this construction isquite simple to manufacture, it affords a high degree of strength for agiven thickness of shelf material, and is readily adjustable for thearrangement of stacked shelves to suit the needs of a user. It will beunderstood that one such bracket is to be provided for each point ofattachment of a shelf to a plurality of vertical posts, such as arecustomarily afforded for supporting each corner of a vertically-spacedarray of shelves.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as myinvention, it is believed that the invention, together with furtherobjects and advantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a bracket and a shelf formed according tothe invention, shown prior to their assembly;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the shelf viewed from an interior vantagepoint, showing the assembled juxtaposition of the bracket in dottedlines, and

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation and partially in section of the shelfbracket construction mounted on a vertical supporting post.

Referring to the drawing, the improved shelf bracket constructionincludes a tubular bracket 1 of a cross-sectional configuration adaptedto conform to the interior corner formed by converging vertical sills 2and 3, depending from each edge of a shelf 4. While only a singlebracket is shown, in conjunction with a fragmentary corner portion of ashelf, it will be understood that one such bracket is preferablyprovided at each corner of the shelf supported by a vertical post. Theshelf 'is shown inverted in the drawingfor greater clarity. The shelf isfurther formed with horizontal lips 5 and 6, bent transversely from thelower edges of the sills to increase its rigidity.

As initially formed, the lips 5 and 6 are cut away obliquely at 9 and 10, respectively, at a distance from the corner 12 of the shelf, toreceive the bracket 1 in abutment with the sills in the corner. However,the flange from which the lips are formed is only partially removed,being trimmed to form locking tabs 14 intermediate the terminations ofthe lips and the corner of the shelf. The bracket, which in this case isof a square cross-section to conform to the square corner 12, is formedwith slots 16 arranged for receiving the tabs 14 therethrough. Thetransverse edges 18 of the tabs 'confronting the corner are cut parallelto one another and oblique to their respective sills, to facilitate theinsertion of the tabs 14 into the bracket.

The horizontal surface portion of the shelf is punched to form anopening 20 in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the sills, andthe sheet material thus -'deflected is trimmed and upset at right anglesto the shelf surface to form locating flanges 22 about the edges of theopening. The opening is of such size and location that the locatingflanges 22 are snugly received in the interior surface of the bracketwith a sliding fit, as best shown in FIG. 3. Further, these flanges areso spaced from the sills 2 and 3 that the bracket is snugly received, insurface engagement between the sills and those of the flanges whichdirectly confront the respective sills.

In assembly, the bracket is first inserted into the corner of the shelf,interiorly receiving the locating flanges 22 longitudinally, andreceiving the locking tabs 14 transversely, through the slots 16. Thelocking tabs are then upset into parallel relation with the sills,firmly gripping the interior surfaces of the bracket to secure theassembly. The resulting assembly is rigid, and resistant to distortionby torsional loadings which may be applied in use to the verticalsupporting posts, since the tabs 14 and flanges 22 restrain the bracketthrough substantial lever arms corresponding to the height of the sills.

7 At its lower end, the corners of the bracket are notched at 23, andthe edges are upset to provide transverse flanges 24 forming an openingslightly smaller than the interior cross-section of the body of thebracket, for snugly receiving a vertical supporting post 26 slidablytherein. The interior surfaces of the locating flanges 22 form anopening of equal size for slidably receiving the post. A set screw 28 isthreadedly engaged in a boss 30 formed transversely through the surfaceof the bracket for gripping the post in a desired vertically-adjustedposition of the shelf thereon.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the improvedshelf bracket construction aflords a sturdy means for adjustablysupporting shelves upon vertical posts, although its construction issimple and easily executed, requiring only the shearing and upsetting ofthe shelf necessary to form the locating flanges and locking tabs forsecurely mounting the bracket in the shelf. It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that varipus changes and modifications may be madeWithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, whichI intend to define in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A shelf bracket construction comprising, i com: bination, a shelfhaving a horizontal surface portion terminating intransversely-extending vertically-depending sills forming an open boxstructure, said horizontal portion being formed with an opening adjacentat least one of said sills and with transversely-extending locatingflanges depending therefrom about the edges of said open ing, a tubularbracket receivable in interior abutment upon said one of said sills andinteriorly receiving said locating flanges in snugly-fitting relationtherein, a cating tab extending transversely from said one of saidsills, said bracket being formed with a slot for receiving said lockingtab, said locking tab being adapted to be upset into engagement with theinterior surface of said bracket for securing said bracket in assembledrelation with said shelf, said bracket being adapted to slidably receivea supporting post transversely through said opening in said shelf, andlocking means for releasably securing said bracket in an adjustedvertical position along said post.

2. A shelf bracket construction comprising, in combination, a shelfhaving a horizontal surface portion terminating at its edges intransversely-extending verticallydepending sills to form an open boxstructure, said surface portion being formed with an opening adjacent atleast one corner thereof and with transversely-extending locatingflanges depending therefrom about the edges of said opening, a tubularbracket receivable in interior abutment with two of said sillsterminating in said corner, and interiorly receiving said locatingflanges in snuglyfitting relation therein, a locating tab formed in eachof said two sills, said tabs being spaced from said corner, said bracketbeing formed with slots for receiving said locking tabs, said lockingtabs being adapted to be upset into engagement with the interior surfaceof said bracket for securing said bracket in assembled relation withsaid shelf, said bracket being adapted to slidably receive a supportingpost passed vertically through said opening in said shelf, and lockingmeans for releasably securing said bracket in an adjusted verticalposition along said post.

3. A shelf bracket construction comprising, in combination, a shelfhaving a horizontal surface portion terminating at its edges intransversely-extending verticallydepending sills to form an open boxstructure, said surface portion being formed with a first rectangularopening adjacent at least one corner thereof and with locating flangesdepending therefrom about the edges of said opening, a tubular bracketof rectangular cross-section receivable in interior abutment with two ofsaid sills terminating in said corner, and interiorly receiving saidlocating flanges in snugly-fitting relation in a first end thereof, alocating tab formed in each of said two sills, said tabs being spacedfrom said corner, said bracket being formed with slots for receivingsaid locking tabs, said locking tabs being adapted to be upset intoengagement with the interior surface of said bracket for securing saidbracket in assembled relation with said shelf, said bracket beingadapted to slidably receive a supporting post of rectangularcross-section passed vertically through said opening in said shelf, andlocking means for releasably securing said bracket in an adjusted vertical position along said post.

4. A shelf bracket construction as recited in claim 3, in which theother end of said bracket is upset to form a second rectangular openingequal in dimension to said first opening for snugly receiving a post oflongitudinallyuniform cross-section slidably therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS856,036 Dean June 4, 1907 1,685,064 Fritz Sept. 18, 1928 2,604,334Schultz July 22, 1952

